High demand for places at new college

Sussex’s new university technical college has had to increase the number of places in its first year due to demand.

There is a waiting list to join UTC@harbourside in Year 10, when it opens in September, and the last few places in Year 12 are being snapped up now that GCSE exams are over.

Principal Jonathan Clarke says anyone thinking of joining should still apply online, and parents of children currently in Year 8 should get in touch to register their interest for next year.

UTC@harbourside, for 14 to 18-year-olds across Sussex interested in science, technology, engineering, maths and computing, initially had places for 120 students: 60 in Y10 and 60 in Y12. However, demand for Y10 was so strong the intake was increased to 75 - and quickly filled. All Y12 places are expected to be filled.

Students are joining from more than 20 secondary schools in Brighton and Hove, East and West Sussex, from Worthing in the west, Eastbourne and Hastings in the east and Haywards Heath and Tunbridge Wells in the north.

Jonathan Clarke said: “We’re doing what we can to increase our capacity so we can offer places to as many students as possible. Clearly the style of education we offer, mixing academic and technical subjects with employer-led projects and an entrepreneurial approach, is what many young people want.”

The college will be housed in historic marine workshops at Railway Quay, Newhaven, currently being converted to provide an iconic home equipped with state-of-the art labs and learning zones.

Details of how to apply can be found at www.utc-harbourside.org/apply-now.

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